2019 Wall of Fame

[zambonir]

Abreu is eligible for the first-time. I'd put him straight on unless they're ready to go with Rolen. Fan vote only picks the Top 5, team still makes the final call internally.

Dubee, Fregosi, Polanco, McBride, Garber, Trillo, Bedrosian, Glanville the other choices.

https://www.mlb.com/phillies/fans/wall-of-fame-ballot?partnerId=ed-13325251-1123608163

[Philsmania]

I voted Abreu-Fregosi-Trillo.

[LoneStarPhan]

Agree.
Abreu should be the next to be added to the WOF.

[BostonRoss]

I don't understand why Garber is always on the ballot. A middle reliever who was on the Phillies for four years?

[RTaylor]

Abreu--Rolen--Trillo.

[VoteForKalas]

This will an important test for the Phillies organization on whether or not they have truly changed and if they will now embrace former players they previously scapegoated and allowed fans/local media to demonize.

Both Abreu and Rolen should be absolute locks for the WOF due to their performance and tenures in the organization. It will be interesting to see how the Phillies navigate and promote those events if they are designated for the honor.

If they are passed over, the agenda will be clear for all to see IMO

[zambonir]

They only put in one player in per year. This is the first year Abreu has been eligible. I don't think Rolen has the fan support. He's already lost out to Jim Thome, Pete Rose and Pat Gillick/Roy Halladay (which they rushed because of his death). Incorrectly in all three cases, IMO, but I don't think TPTB needed to put their thumb on the scale either (except inasmuch as they did that when he was here).

Of course it is not unreasonable to argue that, simply because he only played 6 full years in Philly and 12 years elsewhere, that he isn't a slam-dunk, but it's an argument that goes away in the face of Thome, Rose and Halladay. What will happen is he will eventually get into the HoF, probably far enough in the future that the Phillies will have checked off most of the 2008 players, and then it will happen.

I reckon the Phillies actually do want Bobby to get in, because they have yet to put Lidge in the mix, and Lee will be eligible next year.

[tom81]

Abreu--Rolen--and they wouldn’t let me leave it blank.

[BostonRoss]

I still can't figure out why Tony Gonzalez isn't on the Wall.

[jimbomill]

I went Bake, Trillo and Abreau.

[VoteForKalas]

They only put in one player in per year. This is the first year Abreu has been eligible. I don't think Rolen has the fan support. He's already lost out to Jim Thome, Pete Rose and Pat Gillick/Roy Halladay (which they rushed because of his death). Incorrectly in all three cases, IMO, but I don't think TPTB needed to put their thumb on the scale either (except inasmuch as they did that when he was here).

Of course it is not unreasonable to argue that, simply because he only played 6 full years in Philly and 12 years elsewhere, that he isn't a slam-dunk, but it's an argument that goes away in the face of Thome, Rose and Halladay. What will happen is he will eventually get into the HoF, probably far enough in the future that the Phillies will have checked off most of the 2008 players, and then it will happen.

I reckon the Phillies actually do want Bobby to get in, because they have yet to put Lidge in the mix, and Lee will be eligible next year.

I understand they only put one player in each year and that this is Abreu's first year as eligible.

The fans, local media and organization need to get over themselves on Rolen (and Abreu) which was my point. They both are Phillies worthy of recognition for what they did in the uniform and to pass over them would be tragic IMO. The reason Rolen only played 6 years here was mostly not his fault and a result of poor management by the organization. Abreu was one of the best Phillies during his tenure and the salary dump move to get rid of him had little to do with his performance.

The biggest black mark was the attempted Rose induction; that made a mockery of the process and their credibility. I had zero problem with Thome, Gillick and Halladay.

[Lawman]

I went Abreu-Rolen-Fregosi. Not sure why Garber is on there. I was thinking about McBride.

[Philsmania]

Say what you want about Bowa and Green but Rolen didn't exactly take the high road and turn the other cheek either. Bashing his teammates at start of spring training in 2002 was being a jerk as was refusing to take part in team community service projects (citing Ann Rand philosophy). In the subsequent years, he had opportunities to offer an olive branch and never took them. Schilling, who also left the organization contentiously, on the other hand, frequently mentioned how impressed he was at how the organization changed its mindset and really tried to win. Rolen had ample opportunity to do so himself--particularly in the 2010 postseason when his Reds played the Phillies--but did not. The Phillies organization actually has a long history of kissing and making up with guys who leave the organization in an unhappy manner--Dick Allen, Green, Bowa (three times, mind you), Schilling, Werth, to a lesser extent, Burrell. Rolen, in that regard, is the outlier.

[Philsmania]

Von Hayes appeared on the ballot in 2012 but never really appeared again.

[Lawman]

I'd like to see him get more of a nod.

[zambonir]

refusing to take part in team community service projects (citing Ann Rand philosophy)

Oh I don't remember that, will never vote for him then. (But also: Ayn.)

[VoteForKalas]

Say what you want about Bowa and Green but Rolen didn't exactly take the high road and turn the other cheek either. Bashing his teammates at start of spring training in 2002 was being a jerk as was refusing to take part in team community service projects (citing Ann Rand philosophy). In the subsequent years, he had opportunities to offer an olive branch and never took them. Schilling, who also left the organization contentiously, on the other hand, frequently mentioned how impressed he was at how the organization changed its mindset and really tried to win. Rolen had ample opportunity to do so himself--particularly in the 2010 postseason when his Reds played the Phillies--but did not. The Phillies organization actually has a long history of kissing and making up with guys who leave the organization in an unhappy manner--Dick Allen, Green, Bowa (three times, mind you), Schilling, Werth, to a lesser extent, Burrell. Rolen, in that regard, is the outlier.

Is Rolen a flawed person in some ways? Sure. Did he take his career seriously and strongly want to win? Yes. Did he get bitter the Phillies did not care about winning and would not pay him his worth? Yes. Did he dislike when they took and allowed public shots against him? Yes.

Do those things negate his Phillies performance as the best 3B since Schmidt? Not in my view.

Rolen may refuse the honor to be placed on the Phillies WOF and that would be on him, but only the organization can offer the honor and thus take the first step. That is what I hope they do. If they do not, criticism of them is justified IMO.

[Philsmania]

Say what you want about Bowa and Green but Rolen didn't exactly take the high road and turn the other cheek either. Bashing his teammates at start of spring training in 2002 was being a jerk as was refusing to take part in team community service projects (citing Ann Rand philosophy). In the subsequent years, he had opportunities to offer an olive branch and never took them. Schilling, who also left the organization contentiously, on the other hand, frequently mentioned how impressed he was at how the organization changed its mindset and really tried to win. Rolen had ample opportunity to do so himself--particularly in the 2010 postseason when his Reds played the Phillies--but did not. The Phillies organization actually has a long history of kissing and making up with guys who leave the organization in an unhappy manner--Dick Allen, Green, Bowa (three times, mind you), Schilling, Werth, to a lesser extent, Burrell. Rolen, in that regard, is the outlier.

Is Rolen a flawed person in some ways? Sure. Did he take his career seriously and strongly want to win? Yes. Did he get bitter the Phillies did not care about winning and would not pay him his worth? Yes. Did he dislike when they took and allowed public shots against him? Yes.

Do those things negate his Phillies performance as the best 3B since Schmidt? Not in my view.

Rolen may refuse the honor to be placed on the Phillies WOF and that would be on him, but only the organization can offer the honor and thus take the first step. That is what I hope they do. If they do not, criticism of them is justified IMO.

They did put him on the ballot. I doubt they would have if they weren't willing to give him a spot on the wall. And whatever they did to Rolen, they did to Dick Allen many times over and worse. Allen got over it. Will Rolen?

[Squire]

Can't believe someone didn't make a cringeworthy "Abreu is afraid of walls" joke yet. Frankly, I see Abreu and nobody else who I think should be on our Wall of Fame.

[julio]

Can't believe someone didn't make a cringeworthy "Abreu is afraid of walls" joke yet. Frankly, I see Abreu and nobody else who I think should be on our Wall of Fame.

This is just me, of course - but if the Phillies offered me the opportunity to be up on the same wall with Pete Rose... I would respectfully decline. You are defined by the company you keep, and I would not care to be in that company, ever.